Appalled by these conditions, Heinrich Schroeder designed the Kavango Block Brick system as a means of providing affordable, dignified housing to poor communities across the continent. The Kavango Block Brick is made from sand and cement, but with unique features that allow for easy assembly by low-skilled workers.
Each block is fitted with a tongue and lip, enabling the blocks to efficiently interlock, which are then stacked to form isometric wall systems. Two apertures are provided to allow for plumbing and electrical fittings, which means that no chasing need take place in the structure - maintaining the integrity of the building. Only the most basic tools - such as hammers and trowels - are required for assembly. The system has been accredited by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).
Ben Bertolini, CEO of Kavango Building Solutions, has been using the system for some time and is enthusiastic about its possibilities. "Labour is the most expensive component of any building project, representing up to 30-50% of the total cost. This patented system does not require artisan skills and reduces the construction time from the roughly 30 days it would take to complete a 50m² building using conventional bricklaying methods to about ten days."
Bertolini believes that safe and durable homes should be built that can be transferred from generation to generation. "We don't only want to provide a house for shelter; we want to provide a house that is an asset, that can be used to generate income and or to raise funding at a bank, which means that the house must be bondable. This is how the gap between the rich and the poor can be narrowed." Bertolini says that interest has already been received from countries such as Botswana, Nigeria, Zambia and Rwanda. "It's an African solution to an African problem."
The potential social impact coupled with its innovative technology was precisely what drew local angel investment group Angelhub to the system. Through AngelHub, Kavango Block Brick received funding to commercialise its product in its first Southern African test markets.
"Technology will drive Africa's next wave of growth," says AngelHub's Brett Commaille. "The Kavango Block Brick technology dramatically improves the home building process in terms of ease of installation, reduced costs and time. Add its patent protection and certification and you have an inherently scalable business by licensing the technology, which will always be attractive to investors. The result is incredible customer value and enhanced quality of life."
In addition to angel funding of between R1m and R10m, AngelHub provides extensive mentorship, resources, and access to professional services to the early stage companies that make it through the group's rigorous investment screening process. "In the case of Kavango Block Brick, our investment could pay dividends not only for investors but for entire communities across Africa," Commaille concludes.
